10 Keys To An Urban Garden

Bill Hart

Bay Window Green HouseA recycled bay window serves as a cold frame in Adam and Charity’s garden. So far, the weather has been their biggest problem, especially last winter’s cold and storms.

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Photo by Bill Hart

Angela’s GardenAngela’s garden at the end of a productive season. She now has four garden plots and many herbs and vegetables in containers.

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Photo by Bill Hart

Ivan and Amanda’s Mini-FarmIvan and Amanda’s backyard, where they have an extensive garden. Their soil is poor and their yard does not get much sun, but they are overcoming these problems using permaculture techniques.

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Photo by Bill Hart

Angela’s Bee HivesAngela’s hives are new, and now she is raising bees to pollinate her garden. Eventually, she will harvest the honey.

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Photo by Bill Hart

Bill and Diane’s WoodpileBill’s woodpile. So far, he and Diane have grown and preserved some of their own food, hunted and chopped firewood.

6. Network: The internet is your friend. Use it. Network with your neighborhood. You may be surprised at what some people know and you may be able to help someone else.

7. Everything changes: Slow walks through the neighborhood are replaced by weeding in the garden, watching reruns on TV are replaced by studying animal husbandry and reading seed-saving books.

8. Expect success, prepare for failure: You plant a garden so it will provide food, but if it fails, you will need another source of sustenance.

9. Reassess on a regular basis: Determine what is working and what can be discarded, and adjust plans/goals/schedules as needed.

10. Never give up: Tomatoes got blight? Find out how to fix it. Deer eating the corn? Figure out a deterrent. Our ancestors who were pioneers had to contend with storms, hail and freezing weather without powered tillers and piped-in water, so don’t be discouraged. You can do it!